Untamed: An Alpha's Promise (Paranormal Werewolf Shifter Romance) (5 page)

CHAPTER ELEVEN

It was nearly impossible to concentrate, but Charmaine breathed a sigh of relief as soon as she pulled into the lot of Gillis-Vella. A day at the office would help her clear her head. She could focus on the business and forget for just a while that Parker had asked her yet again that morning to move in with him, and that she had hemmed and hawed and changed the subject and ultimately wounded him.

She hadn’t meant to, especially when he’d been so open with her the night before. She’d been waiting for him to talk about his feelings, and finally last night he’d been vulnerable with her. He’d suppressed his own emotions to be strong for her when she needed him. Now he needed her and she was falling short. She couldn’t erase the memory of his crestfallen face when she’d dodged the question, and she still couldn’t quite put her finger on why she couldn’t take that next step.

There was far too much activity outside the building, which she hadn’t expected. Half the staff was on the grounds, removing… She struggled to see.
What the hell are they doing?
It looked as though they were removing signage. She frowned as she watched them teeming around the building like ants.

“Nate!” she called to one of her sales reps as she got out of her Jeep. “What’s going on?”

He looked nervously at his partner, who was holding the other end of a banner, and then both looked at her, confused. “Uhh… We’re removing the signage.”

She forced herself to maintain a patient tone. “I see that. Why are you removing it?”

“Because… Mr. Vella told us to?”

Peter, the other rep, cleared his throat nervously. “From what I understand, we’re changing vendors. So we were asked to take down all these banners so the new ones can go up.” He paused. “Should we not be…? I mean, I assumed you knew…”

“Thanks, guys.” She gritted her teeth. “Clearly I need to go talk to Mr. Vella.”

She tried to keep the anger out of her eyes as she stormed into her brother’s office, but she couldn’t keep the emotion out of her voice as she slammed the door behind her. “Why wasn’t I told about this?” she demanded. “You can’t just change vendors without discussing it with me. That’s unacceptable. We’re supposed to be working together!”

Christopher stood in front of his mirror, smoothing his tie. He glanced briefly in her direction and shrugged before returning to his own reflection. “I’m cutting costs. The budget’s too high.”

She stared at him incredulously. “We’re well within the budget for this fiscal year, first of all. You know that as well as anyone. Second of all, you don’t change vendors mid-year - especially when there’s no need to change them at all! Pop’s worked with some of them for our whole lives! You don’t just build those relationships in a few months, you know.” She narrowed her eyes at Christopher. “Does Pop even know about this?”

His icy gaze met hers. “I’ve discussed everything with the old man that I need to discuss. I’m the CEO now, so I don’t feel the need to run to him with every little decision. But I’m glad you’re here, since I do have something to discuss with you.”

“What?” she snapped.

“Parker Kreuger is a problem,” her brother replied. His words were calm, but the menace in his voice was unmistakable.

“How is this work-related? What I do in my personal life is my own bus—”

“Not as the sales manager of this business it’s not,” he interrupted. “How do you think it looks for me to run this company while my sister is literally in bed with our worst enemy, the man who is plotting my death?”

“Plotting your— What are you talking about?”

“Parker’s planning to break the treaty as soon as his father dies.”

“On what are you basing this ridiculous claim?” she scoffed.

“It’s all the buzz amongst the scouts. I’ve heard whispers of it for months. He’s planning a strike as soon as Dominic is gone, and from what I hear, that old man won’t live another two weeks.”

“That’s absolutely untrue. I know it is. Parker isn’t plotting anything against you, Christopher. You’re being paranoid.”

He smiled indulgently. “Or maybe you just need to realize that you don’t know Parker Krueger as well as you think you do.”

“I know him very well!” she flared. “There’s no plot! You’re just using this as an excuse… you’ve hated me being with him all along.”

“I do hate you being with him. It’s appalling.”

“There’s nothing appalling about it. We’re Mates!”

“End it now.”

“Christopher,” she pleaded, “this isn’t just some adolescent love affair. You’re talking about messing with the natural order, and I’m not about to do that. Besides, I—” Her brother’s venomous glare nearly took her breath, but she continued. “I love him.”

He nodded and leaned closer to her. “That’s touching,” he murmured. “But you’d better listen very carefully, Charmaine. If you don’t end things with him, you will be out of this pack.” He watched her stunned expression with a complete lack of emotion on his own face before continuing, “You will never be re-accepted, not even after Parker’s death, which will be this pack’s first order of business once things settle down. Even our mother will turn her back on you, because that will be her orders.”

Her legs felt too weak to support her. “What are you saying?”

His condescending smile chilled her to her core. “I think you know exactly what I’m saying. But since you need me to spell it out for you, I’m saying it’s time for you to make a choice. Either say goodbye to this company and this family, or say goodbye to Parker Kreuger.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

Charmaine was still shaking in her office almost an hour later when Scottie came in to see her. She had closed her door and cried for fifteen whole minutes before fixing her makeup with trembling hands and opening her door again as if everything were fine. She had never made an emotional display of herself at work and she wasn’t about to start now.

This was new territory, though. Who did she turn to? She had counted on her father’s protection her whole life, but her brother was the Alpha now. His word was law. Was it worth pleading with her father, or was that a lost cause? She had never lived in a world where her father’s word wasn’t the ultimate say.

Even our mother will turn her back on you, because that will be her orders.
He wouldn’t really do that, would he? Their own mother? It was unthinkable, even for Christopher.

“Hey, did you want to grab—” Scottie stopped in his tracks when he saw her distraught face, his open grin immediately twisting into a frown. “What’s wrong?” he demanded grimly. “Did Parker do something?”

She shook her head and blinked back angry tears. “Nothing like that. It’s my brother. He’s…” Voice quavering, she ushered Scottie into her office and closed the door. She told him what Christopher had said, her eyes misting again as she recounted him telling her that her family would shun her if she didn’t break things off with Parker.

Scottie folded her against his chest and squeezed her tightly. “You know he just gets off on bullying you,” he reassured her. “He’s a douchebag, but he won’t actually do anything. He’s always been like this; he winds you up just because he can.”

“He said my mom would never speak to me again,” she wept. For some reason that threat had hurt her most of all. How could she ever expect to become a wife and mother without her own mother’s support? It was just evil to separate a mother and her child.
Does Christopher really hate me that much?

“Your mother would never do that to you,” he promised, rocking her and smoothing her hair. “No way. I can’t believe he even said that. You’re brother’s a real dick. Please don’t cry… Please, Char…”

“He’s the Alpha now. We’re stuck with him. This is my worst nightmare!” Fresh tears spilled again, soaking the front of Scottie’s shirt as he cradled her to his strong chest. Her nose started running and she swiped at it with the back of her hand like a child.

“It’s okay, it’s okay. Tonight, when you leave here, go to your parents’ house and talk to them. They’ll straighten this out for you. Even if your dad’s not feeling well, talk to your mother. It’s going to be fine, Char. Christopher has always been an asshole, but that’s all this is, him being an asshole. It’s not actually going to happen.” He grabbed some tissues from the box on her desk and thrust them at her. “Here, you’re drowning me,” he joked.

“Sorry,” she sniffled, taking deep breaths as she wiped her face. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have cried all over you.”

“Hey.” Scottie cradled her head in his hands, serious again. “I was teasing. You saved my life, remember? I think that entitles you to shed as many tears on my shirt as you want to. I don’t know about the snot, though.”

She couldn’t help smiling at that. “Fair enough.”

“Don’t let him get to you, really. Call your parents right now and tell them you want to speak with them privately after work. And then tell them what Christopher said. Your dad will know how to deal with him.”

“You’re right. That’s what I’ll do.” Then, remembering that he had obviously come into her office for a reason, “Did you come by to ask me about lunch, by chance? I’m starving!”

“Yeah, actually, I did,” he grinned. “Pizza or Mr. Chang’s?”

“Do you really need to ask on a day like this?”

“I don’t know… you love those garlic knots…”

“Not today. I need MSG.”

“Mr. Chang’s it is. I’ll be back at noon.” He rapped his knuckles on her door frame on the way out and she collapsed in her chair. Scottie
’s right,
she thought
. My dad can handle Christopher. That bastard can’t treat me like this.

CHAPTER
THIRTEEN

She wanted to talk about Christopher’s ultimatum, but Charmaine couldn’t bear upsetting her mother with anything else, so she decided to stop by Parker’s parents’ house on her way home. Parker’s mother, Lena, greeted her warmly at the door when she arrived. For about the thousandth time she was thankful that at least one family was on their side. It was horrible to have to live a double life, not to mention how disconnected it made her feel from Parker sometimes. At least here, in the Kreuger home, she was welcome. She was family.

Dominic was feeling better after several days of terrible pain, so she wanted to visit while he was well enough to see her. She was so thankful to this man, and not just because he had raised such an incredible son, but because he was fair, and kind, and he had given them hope in an impossible situation. It was Dominic who had first believed that they were Mates and who had offered his advice and support when no one else would. She felt a kinship to him and a deep sadness that he wouldn’t be around much longer.

Her heart sank when she opened the bedroom door. Dominic had wasted considerably in just the past week. He was ashen, his features sunk deep into his face. He’d heard the door open, but it took tremendous energy for him to turn his head.

This will be Parker someday
, she thought.
When he’s old, this is what he will look like.

“Hi, Dominic,” she greeted him softly. “How is it today?”

He managed a wan half-smile. “Better,” he replied hoarsely. “Past couple days were…” He trailed off and winced.

“Parker said it’s been rough. I wanted to come see you, but I didn’t want it to be too much for you.”

He nodded, each movement laborious. “Good of you to come.”

Charmaine could hear him breathing in the stillness of the room, every burdensome breath whooshing in and every release like a quiet sigh. She sat by the bed and took his hand. There hadn’t been nearly enough time to get to know her father-in-law, but wrapping her warm fingers around his cold ones seemed right. He smiled at the contact, his eyes crinkling just like Parker’s.

“It won’t be easy,” he murmured, so faintly that if she hadn’t been looking right at his face she would have thought she imagined it. “This life… is not…” He squeezed her fingers as he struggled with the words.

“I was born for this.” The words fell from her before she thought them through, surprising her a bit.
But I
was
born for this
, she thought.
I’ve been an Alpha’s daughter, so being an Alpha’s wife won’t be that new for me
--
just like Parker said. 

“I believe that.” It was the steadiest she’d heard his voice in weeks, and her eyes filled with tears.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, the tears trickling down her face and dripping from her chin. “I’m sorry there’s not more time. I want that for you, so much.”

His thumb pressed the back of her hand, silencing her.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered again, swiping at her face with the back of her hand. “I didn’t come here to make you feel worse.”

“I’ve accepted it. I’m ready. I don’t want everyone to be so upset. You’ll all be just fine without me.”

She shook her head, unable to respond through her tears. For a long time they sat in silence, her hand in his, and though she had come to comfort him it was Dominic who was her comfort now. She let herself mourn this man who had raised the love of her life and treated her like a daughter even in the face of pack law.

“Charmaine…” Dominic’s voice was strained when he finally spoke. “You need to know…”

She looked at him expectantly as he struggled with his words. “He will do… great things…” he said finally.

“Parker’s amazing,” she agreed, blinking back tears. “You should be so proud, Dominic. He’s who he is because you raised him.”

“I meant… your son…” The effort of speaking had wiped him out, and his jaw slackened as the words slipped from him like a final breath. His fingers relaxed and he looked at her for a moment, studying her face, before his eyes drooped closed. Within seconds she heard his shallow, rhythmic breathing and knew he had fallen asleep.

Charmaine was stunned.
My son?

I haven’t… There’s no way…

Her hand strayed to her stomach as she tried desperately to recall the date of her last period. Things had been so hectic, and since going on the pill she hadn’t really paid attention.

Could it be?

She reminded herself that Dominic was on a lot of pain medication. He probably didn’t even know what he was saying.

But he had been lucid
, a little voice in her head argued.

Seemed
lucid, she corrected herself. She wasn’t pregnant.

She sat in the chair next to Dominic for a long time before her mind stopped racing long enough to allow her to go out and talk to Lena and Maddie. She talked herself in and out of the certainty that she was pregnant about ten different times. What would Parker think? They definitely wanted children, but it had always been a plan for the future. Not for now, when they weren’t even married and their very existence as Mates hung in a delicate balance. They lived in fear of discovery every day, which was not the most ideal situation into which to bring a child. It was irresponsible and crazy.

Furthermore, she took her pill religiously. She’d never even taken it at a different time of day, let alone skipped a dose.
What if it’s different for Lycans, though?
she thought. She had bypassed their family doctor for the free clinic in town to get the pills because she didn’t want her parents to find out. What if regular birth control had no effect on her reproductive system? Or what if she was just in that crazy one percent who still got pregnant on the pill?

You’re working yourself up for nothing
. She would just take a pregnancy test, that was all, and it would prove that it was the drugs talking. There was no baby, no son, and she could be sure of it in ten simple minutes. She would buy the test on the way home. Right now, she would forget this whole weird experience and go talk to Parker’s family. She left the room confident that everything would be fine.

But just moments later, as Parker’s little sister chattered excitedly about her upcoming school dance, Charmaine counted back the weeks. From her calculations, her period was definitely late, although maybe it was just stress. She forced herself to remain calm as Maddie scrolled through several pictures of dresses on her phone, tugging at her mother’s sleeve.

Lena squeezed Maddie’s shoulder gently. “We’ll order one soon,” she promised. “I’ve just been so preoccupied with Dad, honey.”

Maddie made a visible effort not to look disappointed, but her carefully neutral face didn’t fool either of them. “Order one? I kinda wanted to go to some stores and try them on, Mom.”

“I’ll take her shopping if you’d like,” Charmaine offered, grateful for some way to contribute.

Maddie beamed at her. “Really? You’ll take me?”

“Oh, Charmaine, that’s so sweet of you, really. That would be great if you don’t mind. I don’t want to leave Dominic, not even for a second. But she’s…” she gestured to Maddie and her shoulders sagged. “She just wants to be a normal kid.”

“Of course, it’s fine… I’m happy to do it. We’ll have fun.” They all looked at their calendars and decided on the following weekend, and Maddie scampered squealing out of the room, already on the phone with one of her friends. Charmaine hugged Lena goodbye and got in her Jeep, temporarily uplifted by their reaction to her offer until she realized two critical pieces of information.

One, she had never taken a middle school girl shopping.

And two, she was most assuredly, without a doubt, pregnant with Parker’s child.